21. July 2009
Budapest, Hungary – Heroes' Square
Everywhere I travel, I hear of great deeds of brave warriors. It seems there is always a need for good to fight the forces of evil. I find myself in the Heroes’ Square in Budapest, Hungary. This is an impressive monument honoring the lands’ heroes. The vast Danube River seems to split the city in three parts, and indeed, I learned later that Budapest used to be considered three separate cities: Pest, Obuda and Buda.
This city is blessed with the most luxurious spa baths I have encountered on my journey. Ahh, this hot bath soaks into these old warrior’s bones nicely. The water from these baths come from the well capped at the Heroes’ Square. I suppose there is one positive thing being atop a tectonic plate prone to earthquakes. We know this well in Japan.
As I wander through the city, a loud boom rocks the quiet afternoon and before I knew it I had my sword out and was running to the source of the commotion, preparing for battle. Imagine my embarrassment when I arrive and all it was, was a display of horseman cracking their mighty bullwhips for the tourists outside the Fisherman’s Bastion. I sheath my sword and talk to one of the locals. Hungarian soldiers were recognized as some of the greatest horsemen in the world and would crack these mighty bullwhips in battle.
Budapest is a beautiful, beautiful city, and as I walk through the city at night marveling at the lights,, museums, and other art houses, I am content. I am learning much about history, culture, and engineering, but wonder if these are the things Sensei meant for me to learn on this journey.
12. July 2009
The Samurai Creed
I have no parents; I make the Heavens and the Earth my parents.
I have no home; I make the Tan T’ien my home.
I have no divine power; I make honesty my Divine Power.
I have no means; I make Docility my means.
I have no magic power; I make personality my Magic Power.
I have neither life nor death; I make An Um my Life and Death.
I have no body; I make Stoicism my Body.
I have no eyes; I make The Flash of Lightning my eyes.
I have no ears; I make Sensibility my Ears.
I have no limbs; I make Promptitude my Limbs.
I have no laws; I make Self-Protection my Laws.
I have no strategy; I make the Right to Kill and the Right to Restore Life my Strategy.
I have no designs; I make Seizing the Opportunity by the Forelock my Designs.
I have no miracles; I make Righteous Laws my Miracle.
I have no principles; I make Adaptability to all circumstances my Principle.
I have no tactics; I make Emptiness and Fullness my Tactics.
I have no talent; I make Ready Wit my Talent.
I have no friends; I make my Mind my Friend.
I have no enemy; I make Incautiousness my Enemy.
I have no armour; I make Benevolence my Armour.
I have no castle; I make Immovable Mind my Castle.
I have no sword; I make No Mind my Sword.
12. July 2009
San Francisco, California – Lords of the Samurai
This trip has been long. Over 13 hours in this airplane. The strongest horse would have needed rest many times over and would have traveled only a fraction of the distance. These airplanes will take me to far off lands I would have never been able to see in a lifetime of travel. Look at me, I speak as if my journey through time were not remarkable in itself.
I arrive in San Francisco, California, in these United States. I looked at a map before this trip and this country’s size is astounding! Over 9.2 million square kilometers. Gods, Japan is only 378,000 square kilometers! You could fit Japan into the United States 24 times! California alone is bigger than all of Japan!
Imagine my surprise when I arrive and am greeted by a museum exhibit of the “Lords of the Samurai.” I visited this Asian Museum in San Francisco. The exhibit itself was rather small and many of the pieces replicas, but I felt a strong pull of homesickness all the same. Sometimes I forget I have been gone for a few years already and the friends and family I have left behind seem so very far away. I must speak of this with Sensei later. The exhibit displayed items from the Hosokawa clan. I learned later they descended from a branch of my own Minamoto clan. Hah! At least they were not from those Taira dogs! Forgive me, these old feuds run deep.
It seemed my own sword and armor elicited quite a stir. The head curator of the museum almost fell over in shock when he saw my authentic battle armor. My sword, gifted to me by the Emperor himself for saving his life, is a Masamune, created by the master, Masamune Okazaki, himself. They pleaded with me to allow them to examine my weapon and to run some tests. It was almost their final wish. Are these Americans mad to try to take away a Samurai’s sword? I have killed men for merely daring to touch my sword. I made my hasty retreat through the crowd who had gathered thinking this was part of the display. I could have easily killed the guards, such as they were, where they stood but I have been warned by Sensei not to take any unnecessary lives during this journey.
The rest of my stay in San Francisco was less eventful. This is a beautiful region, with calm weather and diverse landscapes. Surprisingly, they had exceptional sushi and sake! Now I really do long for home. I felt I could stay in the Silicon Valley for a while, to learn more of the incredible pace of change happening on the Internet and World Wide Web. There is so much to learn and so many great things in development. I hope another host brings me back soon to the Bay Area.
4. July 2009
Lviv, Ukraine – Downtown
It seems all I do is eat and drink on this journey. How am I to keep my warrior’s edge? I think I need to start a fast or I shall be too large to fit into my battle gear. These Ukrainians, a proud and strong people. I can sense the warrior spirit within them. From what I have learned of their history they have known hardship and suffering and yet I find them quick to smile and full of laughter. That is a warrior’s spirit. I also find their cuisine to my liking. It is a hearty food, from farmers and laborers who toil for a living. This reminds me of meals from the campaigns.
This horilka and meduvuha/medovukha, these are a man’s drink. Full of fire and warmth as it goes down. I must remember discipline or I will find myself drunk..shameful for a samurai warrior. I appreciate this protocol the Ukrainian show when toasting to each other. Very proper and respectful. First to the occasion. Then to friends. To the women. To the men. To parents. To children. Some toast to love. This is good and proper.
My hosts bring me to their “secret place,” kryivka. We are greeted by a weathered veteran who says something in Ukrainian to my host. I have been prepared ahead of time with the proper password response. After a brief toast of their wonderful meduvuha a secret passageway is revealed behind a bookcase and we descend into an underground entrance. I am told that during war times, these “secret places” held supplies and ammunition for their soldiers and were scattered throughout the countryside. The password ensured only the proud sons and daughters of Ukraine could enter. Very smart tacticians. Now in times of peace, these have become popular gathering places for the youth to socialize. Again, I am treated to rounds of meduvuha and raucous patriotic songs.
I think back further–it is still strange to think of the years after my time “backwards”–and I imagine the fierce Ukrainian Cossack, with his oseledets blowing in the wind astride his horse. These Cossacks, “free people,” followed not long after my time and had a code of honor which seems akin to my own bushido, the way of the Samurai warrior. The Cossacks did not fight for dreams of wealth, but valued loyalty and freedom above all else. They would never leave a comrade in peril. Indeed, these are traits that would fit nicely within bushido. I wonder if this is part of the lessons Sensei told me I must learn on my journey.
25. July 2009
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